21st Jul 2008, 21:06

Well I take blame for some of the things that have gone wrong with it. I was running it kind of hard at first. That might have something to do with it burning oil. I also let my girl friends step son drive it. I think he hit something. That might have had some effect on the front end, and the leak in the gas tank.

I like the car and always will. It is too bad that it won't be around here past August 1st. The dealership cheated me on the financing of the car. My monthly payment isn't what they said it would be. I called G.M. and they said they would take the car back. No harm, no foul.

My next car will be an Impala. A somewhat more bigger, and stronger car. (Be careful when buying a car. Make sure the dealership will be around after two, or three months. I learned this the hard way)

10th Aug 2008, 22:43

There was a lot of papers to sign. At one point the finance person from this now defunked dealership excused himself and left the closing room where we were finishing up the details of the purchase, and the financing of our new car. After he left another person came in and completed the last steps of the financing. I thought it was kind of funny at the time. I got concerned when I saw the original person we were working with running to his car when we were finished. I just knew something wasn't right.I knew we were cheated.

12th Aug 2008, 12:19

To comment 20:45. Sadly, it is VERY easy for a car dealer to defraud a customer BECAUSE of all the paperwork. Most people never bother to go over their contracts line by line and check everything. I DO. In purchasing a Ford truck some years ago I discovered that I had not been given credit for a $150 Ford rebate. I immediately drove back to the dealer and demanded that the contract be voided and another one written up LESS my $150. They pretended that is was an "oversight". Heaven only knows how many "oversights" occurred that no one EVER discovered.

A few years back one of our local Toyota dealers was found guilty of DOUBLING the sales tax on the contracts (resulting in an additional $1100-$2000+ profit for the dealer). Few people even noticed, but fortunately one did and a class-action suit was brought against the dealer. A judge ruled that the people who had been cheated were entitled to a $3000 CREDIT on ANOTHER CAR!! That was like tossing the victims back to the wolves, as the dealership probably marked up the prices $4000 and bilked the poor folks out of ANOTHER $1000. It would have been far better if each person had simply filed charges against the dealer individually, as they would have stood a better chance of getting a cash refund.

People need to SCRUPULOUSLY review their contracts after they get home and IMMEDIATELY insist on refunds due them. If the dealer refuses, you have the option to simply return the car and void the contract (in the U.S.) within 3 business days. The dealer will tell you you can't, but it's the LAW, you CAN. Also, you can generate bad publicity by calling the local news consumer affairs people and by filing complaints with the Better Business Bureau and/or you state Attorney General's office. Don't be timid. You have rights.

14th Aug 2008, 21:26

I agree that it wouldn't be hard for a dealer to confuse someone with the paperwork. What I wondered about, though, is how you could sign all of the papers that say exactly what your payment will be and not know it. I'm just curious because I've purchased many new and used cars (the last one 7 months ago). While it would be easy for a dealer to do the things you mentioned (not giving a discount or doubling sales tax), it would seem like it would be harder to misrepresent the payment if the customer was paying any kind of attention. But, hey, I realize that confusion happens.

If you read the comments here, there have been a number of changes to the story from the first time the person wrote to the last (for example why would they be "real mad"--1st post-- if the problems the car had were because of misuse?--later posts). At least now the person isn't saying that the Malibu is bad--just that the dealer was, and presumably the person who damaged his car. I don't own a Malibu; I've only test-driven one. I found it to be a very fine car and I remain skeptical about some of the frankly weird claims some have made about it. This is particularly true in light of J.D. Powers' recent report on initial quality. I realize weird stuff can happen to cars but am always cautious about the strange, inconsistent, or physically impossible that a few post here. But at the very least they're good for a laugh :)

16th Aug 2008, 18:08

Wow! I hadn't heard of this until now. In that case the buyer would have every right to simply return the car and go elsewhere. Then the dealer pays for their own mistake by having to sell the car as used.

Regarding your other comment; the commenter's assertions are both confusing and difficult to believe.

#1 Like I said before, their attitude wasn't consistent with their story.

#2 G.M. warrants the car, not a dealership.

#3 No matter how hard you ran the car, it would be difficult to produce an oil consumption problem in a modern engine within just a few months of purchase.

#4 First it is inferred that the person is "real mad" at the car's failings as it "looks silly" parked on their "tree lawn". Then their story suddenly morphs because they are informed of the obvious -- it's under warranty. Then they adjust the story again to say that the dealer went out of business. Then they are informed that that wouldn't make any difference because the dealer doesn't back the warranty thus any G.M. dealer could take care of their issues. Then they nearly completely abandon their narrative and claim that all the problems were, in essence, their own fault and that G.M. was buying the car back (in it's damaged state, apparently) and giving them an Impala because of some high-handed dealer misrepresenting their payment. Those are a lot of changes and they stretch credibility.

So...#5 I'm kinda stuck only believing the part about their driving a 98 Sentra with 178,000 miles on it. That I do believe.

I also believe the Malibu to be a car worthy the consideration of a midsize-car buyer. I own an Altima, but thought the Malibu was just as good. We went with the Altima because the terms were better (due to the Malibu being brand new at the time, so dealers were unwilling to come down from list by much).